Liverpool face Manchester City in the FA Cup quarter-final on Saturday knowing they need to put in a much better performance.
The Reds were poor last time out against Brighton, and could be torn to shreds if they turn up with a display of similar quality.
With Liverpool heading to PSG on Wednesday, and the Reds coming off the back of an international break, Arne Slot has some decisions to make with his starting XI. Here’s the team we think he’ll go for to put Liverpool in a first FA Cup semi-final since 2022.
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Who will book a place in the semi-final at Wembley?
Defence
Friday brought news that Alisson Becker will miss the two Champions League legs against PSG, meaning Giorgi Mamardashvili is certain to start at the Etihad.
Who plays at right-back is far less certain, but with Jeremie Frimpong being forced off while playing for the Netherlands in midweek, it seems more likely that Dominik Szoboszlai will go again.
Frimpong trained on Thursday, but having had his problems with injury this season, the £30m man should be carefully managed. He may be on the bench, but Slot might have to leave him out of the XI.
Thankfully Liverpool have fewer problems at centre-back, where Ibrahima Konate will partner Virgil van Dijk, while it would be a surprise if Milos Kerkez did not start at left-back.
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Midfield
Given the necessity of playing Szoboszlai at right-back, and a perceived falling out between Slot and Curtis Jones, predicting Liverpool’s midfield has become easier of late.
Ryan Gravenberch and Alexis Mac Allister are nailed on to start the Reds’ biggest games, and both should play here.
Meanwhile, Florian Wirtz will hope to have a bigger impact at the Etihad after a disappointing showing in November. The German has had an excellent international break and Liverpool will need him to be at something approaching his best.
Attack
If Liverpool’s midfield has become easy to predict, then so too has the forward line, which will at least be bolstered by the return of Alexander Isak on Saturday.
Slot has confirmed that Isak will not start against City, but the option to have him come off the bench is hugely positive.
As he has been since the Swede broke his leg in December, Hugo Ekitike will be Liverpool’s central focal point, while Cody Gakpo is likely to play off the left.
In what will be his final ever appearance against Manchester City as a Liverpool player, Mohamed Salah should get one last chance to inflict some pain on Pep Guardiola from the right of the Reds’ attack.
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